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2 News AIR FORCE May 1, 2008 Advertising manager Geoff Howard: (02) 6266 7605 0405 310 074 advertising@defencenews.gov.au Advertising Representative Tim Asher: (07) 3332 7651 0414 552 667 timothy.asher@defence.gov.au Postal address: R8--LG--048, Russell Offices Canberra, ACT 2600 Disclaimer AIR FORCE News is published fortnightly by the Directorate of Defence Newspapers. Printed by Capital Fine Print. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising if it is deemed inappropriate and to change the size of the ad, print type or other specifications if material is not compatible with our system. The fact an ad is accepted for publication does not mean that the product or service has the endorsement of Defence or AIR FORCE News. FORCE AIR Director Rod Horan: (02) 6265 4650 rod.horan@defencenews.gov.au Editor Simone Liebelt: (02) 6265 2253 simone.liebelt@defencenews.gov.au Deputy Editor/Sports Editor Barry Rollings: (02) 6265 7219 barry.rollings@defencenews.gov.au Senior Reporter Andrew Stackpool: (02) 6266 7611 andrew.stackpool@defencenews.gov.au Reporter/Photographer LAC Aaron Curran: (02) 6265 1355 aaron.curran@defencenews.gov.au Website: http://www.defence.gov. au/news/raafnews Email: raafnews@defencenews.gov.au (Put [sec=unclassified] after title in subject line) Subscriptions Trish Dillon: (02) 6266 7607 tdillon@defencenews.gov.au Fax: (02) 6265 6690 AIR FORCE RANKS The following explains the rank abbreviations, as featured in AIR FORCE News ACM Air Chief Marshal AIRMSHL Air Marshal AVM Air Vice-Marshal AIRCDRE Air Commodore GPCAPT Group Captain WGCDR Wing Commander SQNLDR Squadron Leader FLTLT Flight Lieutenant FLGOFF Flying Officer PLTOFF Pilot Officer OFFCDT Officer Cadet WOFF-AF Warrant Officer of the Air Force WOFF Warrant Officer FSGT Flight Sergeant SGT Sergeant CPL Corporal LAC Leading Aircraftman LACW Leading Aircraftwoman AC Aircraftman ACW Aircraftwoman Commendation winners The ins and outs of leadership ACAUST Commendation -- Silver SQNLDR Damien Balkin -- for his expemplary performance as the strike planner within the Air Operations Centre at HQ Air Command. SQNLDR Andrew Davidson -- for his outstanding perform- ance as the air battle director during Operation Deluge in 2007. FLTLT Michael Parker -- for his outstanding performance as an avionics design engineer at the Aircraft Research and Development Unit. WOFF Sandra Nicholson -- for her outstanding performance as a facilitator at the School of Postgraduate Studies, RAAF Base Wagga. FSGT Percy -- for his outstand- ing performance as the SNCO in charge of operational train- ing at the Defence Explosive Ordnance Training School (DEOTS). Miss Natalie Bransby -- for her outstanding performance as the task management coordina- Greetings, Airmen and Airwomen of the Air Force. Since my last article, I have spoken to many promotion course students. On a number of occasions, I was asked a question: What is the one lead- ership trait that has caused me the most angst during my time as the Warrant Officer of the Air Force? I had noticed a culture starting where NCOs, SNCOs and WOFFs were not taking ownership of tasks given to them by a superior. I note that this is an issue that is brewing but is not at epidemic proportions. Once a legal task has been given, if they do not entirely agree with it, they should discuss the issue with their supe- rior before meeting with their respective subordinates. There are some NCOs, SNCOs or WOFFs who go out and distance them- selves from the task by stating that, "the CO wants us to ..." (or words to that effect). This is not leadership, and will only encourage disenchantment. What must happen is that they go to their subordinates and take ownership of the given task. "Right, I want you to ..." (or words to that effect). This is not only good leadership but will also encourage more people to fol- low. Also, we must be aware of our sur- rounds as leaders when we want to vent our feelings. Choose the appropriate time, place, peer or friend. I attended the first No. 1 Recruit Training Unit's (1RTU) graduation at RAAF Base Wagga on April 9. I was very impressed with the standard of drill dis- played by the graduating airmen/airwom- en. Well done to all of those members. The airmen and airwomen we are gradu- ating today are confident and enthusiastic, and this will continue into the future. One cannot help but feel proud of our people and know that Air Force's future will be safe in the hands of the new generation. After the parade, CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd officially opened the new 1RTU facility. I said that the Officers' Training School facility was very impres- sive; the new buildings at 1RTU are equally impressive My wife Sheryl and I attended Graham 'Springy' Farrington's farewell from the Wagga Sergeants' Mess on April 18. 'Springy' has done a great job as a facilitator of the WOFF courses and has now been posted to RAAF Base East Sale. A great night was had; the theme was 'Medieval'. To those who attended -- thank you for getting into the spirit of the evening and dressing up. The evening proved to me that with SGT Jody Peck, who designed the dining hall as a castle and was the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, mess life was alive and well -- in Wagga at least. The food was fantastic, so I would like to thank the catering staff, too.I would also like to congratulate the personnel listed at right for their well- deserved commendations. 'Till next time, please keep on smiling. Air Mail Warrant Officer of the Air Force WOFF-AF Ray Woolnough, AM tion officer of the Air Systems Development and Test Wing. ACAUST Commendation -- Bronze SQNLDR Jennifer Hewerdine -- for her outstanding performance as the intelligence and analysis flight commander at 462SQN. SGT Robert Bruhn -- for his outstanding performance as a reserve member at the technical surveillance section, 462SQN. SGT Damien Holding -- for his outstanding performance as the SNCO responsible for the ADF EOD course at DEOTS. CPL Damon Currie -- for his out- standing performance as a PTI at RAAF Base East Sale. LACW Hayley Geisler -- for her outstanding performance and dedication to duty as the person- nel and registry clerk at HQSRG. THREE lending institutions will replace one as part of the new Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme (DHOAS), which is on target to come into effect on July 1. The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, MP, unveiled the new lenders at a signing in Canberra on April 23. They are: National Australia Bank Limited; Australian Defence Credit Union Limited; and Defence Force Credit Union Limited. DHOAS, which aims to help ADF personnel buy their own homes, is one of a number of initiatives to encourage personnel to serve longer. Mr Snowdon said it would provide progressively higher home loan subsi- dies to permanent members who serve beyond the critical separation points of four, eight and 12 years, and reservists with service past eight years. "While the scheme is still subject to legislation being passed in the winter session of Parliament, signing with the successful tenderers works towards a July 1 commencement date. "The initiative recognises the loyalty and dedication of ADF members, and it replaces the 17-year-old Defence Home Owner Scheme, which has a maximum From Page 1 Commander Air Combat Group AIRCDRE Neil Hart said the exercise had great value for the RAAF. "Exercise Red Flag involved a series of air combat scenarios that tested operational air and ground crews to the highest level, short of actual combat," he said. "The exercise provided the ultimate environment in which our Air Force personnel could showcase their extraordinary abilities in a deployed scenario. Our quality Air Force people were the key to our air combat capability. "They have earned interna- tional respect over the years, and they performed brilliantly in this exercise, too." Red Flag was not only for the benefit of aircrew. It provided sig- nificant training and experience for administrative, logistics, and maintenance personnel deploying to a foreign country and working with different Air Forces. Cold combat for 75SQN on Red Flag loan of $80,000," Mr Snowdon said. "DHOAS better matches the realities of modern home ownership, and the maxi- mum amount borrowed will be subject only to negotiation between the ADF member and the lending body within the normal constraints of policies and market conditions." The tender process has enabled the Government to obtain more choice of loan products for ADF members, and has enabled the Government to be more generous in the subsidy. Following a separate competitive tendering process, the Department of Veterans' Affairs has been appointed as the scheme admin- istrator for both the old and the new schemes. More information and FAQs about the Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme is available under the 'ADF News' section at: http://intranet. defence.gov.au/pac/ or http://www. defence.gov.au/dpe/pac/ DHOAS on target POSITIVE SIGN: WGCDR Callum Brown (centre standing) represented Defcredit at the contract signing of the new DHOAS at Parliament House, joined by Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, MP (front left) and Ed Killesteyn from Veterans' Affairs (right). Photo by LAC Aaron Curran